Living and Making disciples

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 1
Part 1 - Bible study: Disciples are made, not born

DISCIPLES ARE MADE, NOT BORN

Some of the last recorded words of Jesus are found in the ‘‘Great Commission”. These last orders of Jesus are found in all 4 Gospels (a slightly different emphasis is given in each Gospel) and is again repeated in Acts 1: 8. We must conclude that this was very important to Jesus and to the early church.

We shall focus on the Matthew 28: 18-20 account.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28: 18-20
Then Jesus came to them [his disciples] and said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

TRUE OR FALSE?

The Great Commission was only given to the 12 disciples of Jesus.

The Great Commission cannot be achieved in our lifetime.

A convert and a disciple of Christ is the same.

Making disciples of Christ is easy.

DISCUSS IN SMALL GROUPS

What is a disciple?

Name one person who has discipled you.

Name one person you are discipling now.

Are you comfortable with the idea that you could disciple someone?

In your own opinion, are disciples made or born?

CHRISTIAN ≠ DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

A Christian is someone who has been born spiritually into the family of God. This is a great start, but is does not make them automatically a disciple or follower of Christ!

John 1: 12-13Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

A disciple means a follower and learner. These were the original 12 disciples. We are also disciples of Christ - we follow His lead and learn from Him.

Christians are born into God’s family and are going to heaven.

Disciples of Christ are made (this is a life long process). Disciples of Christ are also going to heaven but they are busy bringing as many people with them!

Which are you - a Christian or a disciple of Christ?

Which one would you like to be?

GREAT COMMISSION EXPLORED

“All authority in heaven and on Earth.”The army officers are headed by the government. They have the authority and orders from their government. We also are an army under God’s orders and Jesus has given us His authority - the permission and the right to advance His Kingdom is ours!

Does Christ have our obedience and loyalty?

Do we need any other authority?

“Go and make disciples.”God is always on the go. In fact, 2/3 of God is spelt go. He is always taking the first step toward us. He also commands us to go - to take the first step in making disciples of Christ. God wants us to make a plan and then make it happen!
The Greek word ‘make’ (matheteuo) literally means:
to create, to manufacture and to bring forth.

Making disciples - is this a command or an option for me?

“Of all nations.”The word nation means ‘ethnos’. Every ethnic group (cultural and linguistic group) must be included.
How many different ethnic groups are there in your country?

How are we doing in making disciples of Christ in these groups?

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Jesus is clearly committed to getting the job finished. He wants to give everyone a chance to hear the gospel. Jesus promises that he will not give up nor stop until everyone has heard.2 Peter 3: 9.His plan “A” is to reach the world through us. And the method is to “make disciples” of Christ in all nations.

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 1
Part 2 - workshop: First steps

FIRST STEPS

We have witnessed for Jesus and someone has just become a Christian. We may think our job is finished, in reality, it has just started. If this new child of God is to become a disciple of Christ we must help them in their first steps as a young Christian. We must not abandon them as if they were an orphan!

APOSTLE PAUL

1 Thessalonians 2: 7-8“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY

Most of us used the Knowing God Personally booklet as an evangelistic booklet. But it is also a good follow-up tool. Some advantages in using it:

It is already in the hand of the new Christian.

It is simple.

It answers immediate.

It goes a little deeper by giving principles of Christian growth.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

The person has just prayed to receive Christ. What now?

Immediately, continue through the KGP booklet from page 14 to the back page (after the prayer). What did you observe?

Make a plan to see the person the next day.
Go through the KGP booklet from the beginning, highlighting the main points.
Answer any questions they may have from the 4 points of the gospel.
Ask them the 2 questions on page 13.
Let them know they can be sure that Christ is now in their life (page 16).
Help them understand that they cannot always trust their feelings (page 17).
Pray together - if possible, help them to thank God in their own words.

Over the next few weeks help the new Christian to get connected to other family members (disciples of Christ).
On your campus invite them to your action group and primetime.
In the community invite them to your church or go to their church.

PRINCIPLES OF FOLLOW-UP

Timing is important. Some things have to happen immediately, the next day or over the next few weeks. Do not lead them to Christ and then leave them alone!

Never laugh at their questions. There are no stupid questions!

Don’t expect them to change overnight.

Be a friend to them by getting together for reasons other than follow-up.

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Living and making disciples workshop 1

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 2
Part 1 - Bible study: Spiritual mathematics

SPIRITUAL MATHEMATICS

When someone becomes
a Christian we say they are added to the family of God. This is a great thing and there is rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15:10). But there is something even greater than spiritual addition - it is spiritual multiplication.

SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION

Apostle Paul is telling Timothy:

2 Timothy 2: 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

DISCUSS IN GROUPS

INVESTMENT

Paul did not stop when someone was added to the family of God; rather he took it a step further and multiplied himself through people like Timothy.

Paul did not just spend his time with anyone; rather he invested his time with the right people. He selected those people who would reproduce themselves!

THREE STEPS

Win people to Christ.

Build the ‘reliable’ ones into disciples of Christ.

Send them to win others...
generation after generation, after generation, etc.

This was Jesus’ way of building movements everywhere.

Every disciple of Christ is to be a disciple maker.

MAKING DISCIPLES

The person God uses to make disciples of Christ:
No experts need to apply. However, there are some basic requirements that are needed if God is going to use someone to make disciples of Christ.
You need to... (see next four pages)

1. BE A FRIEND

Discipleship is not just an activity but rather a lifestyle. It’s not just doing but rather being. You need to share your life with them and not just take them through good Bible materials. Be involved in their lives through sport, a diner, watching movies together, etc.

See John 15: 15

2. BE A MODEL

Things are better caught, not
taught. When we are passing things onto a younger Christian they follow our example more than our words. We model the Christian life for them.
Sometimes our life may speak so loud that it prevents us from making disciples of Christ.

See 1 Corinthians 11: 1

3. BE AN ENCOURAGER

In this world there are those who give and those that take. If you want to make disciples of Christ, then follow Jesus’ example and be a giver. This takes your time, energy and resources. Encouragement is the life blood of discipleship. An
encourager is a giver!

See Acts 11: 19-30

4. BE AN ACCOUNTANT

Sometimes hard things
need to be said. The “wounds of a friend can be trusted”. And “open rebuke is better than hidden love”. You need to earn the right to say difficult things. Get their permission first and then hold them accountable
by asking them the rough questions.

See Proverbs 27: 5-6

ACTION POINT

Revisit your best 4x4xfaith pledge.

Who is on your list of people you hope to disciple?

How are you investing in their lives?

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 2
Part 2 - workshop: ‘The Life’ booklet

THE LIFE BOOKLET

Some of us may think that the Holy Spirit is an optional extra to the Christian life. A bit like some extra options on a car! We think that perhaps when we reach a higher level in our walk with God then we will receive the Spirit. This is not
biblical thinking and it is not God’s plan for his children.

SPIRIT OF TRUTH

Jesus said:

John 14: 16-18And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counsellor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth... you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans.

REMEMBER

The Holy Spirit convicted us of our sin [John 16: 8]

The Holy Spirit gave us new life [John 3: 5-7]

The Holy Spirit is the deposit and guarantee of our new life [Ephesians 1: 13-14]

The Holy Spirit is our life! [Galatians 5: 25]

USING THE LIFE BOOKLET

Advantages to using The Life Booklet:

It is biblical (there is much false teaching).

It is simple (this topic confuses many).

It is transferable (you can pass it on easily).

Watch the example of the trainers.

What did you observe?

Now it is your turn: practice with a partner.

ACTION POINT

Share this booklet with the
four Christians on your best 4x4xFaith list. Make a new plan now - decide the time and place.

Share the booklet and then leave it with them.

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Living and making disciples workshop 2

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 3
Part 1 - Bible study: Where the action is!

WHERE THE ACTION IS!

Jesus went public for only 3 years. His task was to reach the world. That is a lot of people! Yet, for the sake of the many, He focused on a few. He formed a flexible, mobile band of disciples into a group ready for action. Jesus then investedall His time and energy into this action group, who later would “turn the world upside down”(Acts 17: 6)

test paragraph

APOSTLES

Mark 3: 13-14Jesus went up to a mountainside and called to him those He wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve - designated them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

TRUE OR FALSE?

The disciples chose Jesus.

All of Jesus’ disciples were successful.

Jesus sent them out immediately.

We do not have authority today over demons.

Jesus’ action was to send them out.

DISCUSS IN SMALL GROUPS

(Most answers found in the Mark Passage)

What was the purpose of Jesus’ group?

Could it be said that the action was evangelism?

How did one join Jesus’ action group?

What were the qualifications?

Did anyone leave Jesus’ action group?

GOOD VERSUS THE BEST

The Liverpool FC anthem says: “You’ll never walk alone.”
It is good to be in a small group - it is there that we experience Christian community. But what is the best type of small group to be part of?

How could I invest my time and not just spend it in a fellowship group?

What type of small group did Jesus model to us?

THE MISSING LINK

Win people to Christ - this is spiritual addition.

Build the ‘reliable’ ones into disciples of Christ - this is discipleship.

Send them to win others - this is spiritual multiplication.

We see spiritual addition but rarely does it go onto multiplication.

Why do we not see spiritual multiplication?

Why are we not able to “send them out”?

The answer: that missing link called discipleship. We are not building disciples of Christ.

We stop at adding converts to the Church. We do not take it further and help these young children of God grow in Christ and then reproduce themselves!

FISHERS OF MEN

Matthew 4: 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.

Come = spiritual addition

Follow me = discipleship (the missing link)

Fishers of men = spiritual multiplication

We have “come” to Jesus (at conversion). And Jesus promises that He will make us fishers of men.

FISHING FOR MEN

True or false? If we were not fishing for men, then we are not following Jesus!(Remember: a disciple is a follower)

ACTION POINT

Make the decision now to have your own action group.

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 3
Part 2 - workshop: Getting the right tools

GETTING THE RIGHT TOOLS

If you want to dig in the garden you use a shovel, not a pen! In life we know that we need the right tools for certain jobs. In making disciples of Christ we also need the right tools in our hands. We need to be tooled up with the best materials available and the skills to know how to use them. These tools will help you teach the Bible and reach out to unbelievers.

PREACH

Paul tells Timothy:

2 Timothy 4: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

TEACHING TOOLS

The order in which you use
the following materials (next pages) is important. There is a sequence where each one builds on the other. If you skip some, then you may not build a firm foundation.

1. USE THE KGP BOOKLET

Use the Knowing God Personally booklet as your first follow-up tool.
(See 1st Steps in workshop 1, part 2).

2. COVER THE BASICS

The ABC’s of the Christian life:

Assurance of salvation

Experiencing God’s forgiveness

The ministry of the Holy Spirit

Principles of growth

SEED (GROUP) MATERIALS

The First SEED

Being sure

Forgiven

Holy Spirit 1, 2 and 3

Prayer

Bible

Church

Purity

New ID

Last Orders

When starting your action
group, it is wise to use SEED (group) material and start at the beginning following the suggested numbers 1 to 10.
Even if your action group members are older in their faith, reminding them of the basics is still a good idea.

How much time will you need for each study of SEED material? It is not a race. So take the time that it needs to complete each session. Remember that the aim is not just to take people through the material, but rather to see transformation and growth.

REACHING TOOLS

1. Living and Telling the Good NewsThis series of workshops is for training Christians and will help you pass on the skills of how to share your faith and using your personal testimony. It can be used in a small or large group.

2. Evangelism materialsThere are a number of good
materials which can be used in sharing your faith such as
- Questionnaires
- Soularium
- Perspective cards
- Connect studies 1-6

The best way to help someone share their faith is to involve them in your action group and let them watch you. Remember: things are better caught than taught!

3. SEED training materialsThere are 10 SEED training
sessions available on how to share the gospel such as:
- Asking good questions
- Everyday evangelism
- Leading people to Christ

4. Other materialAt Agapè we are constantly developing new materials that will help you reach out. Check the “Resource kit for Student Leaders” at the Agapè Europe website. There you can find all the materials mentioned in this workshop.

ACTION POINT

Look at each set of material
now. Decide what you need to use.

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Living and making disciples workshop 3

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 4
Part 1 - Bible study: Up close

UP CLOSE

Sometimes we can get so busy in the ministry of God that we forget the God of the ministry. How to maintain a
fresh and honest relationship with God is key. Reading the Bible and hearing from God is an important part of our own Christian life and teaching younger disciples of Christ to do the same is one of the best things we can pass onto them.

RELATIONSHIP

David said:

Psalm 25: 4-5Show me your ways, o Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

TRUE OR FALSE?

David was always close to God.

David uses the words me or my six times.

David only had ⅓ of the Bible that we have today.

David was a “man after God’s own heart”.

1ST HAND OR 2ND HAND?

If you had a choice to buy a car and money was not a problem: Would you buy old or new?
Would you prefer a 2nd hand car over a 1st hand car?

If you had a choice of hearing from God through the Bible (His revealed will to us):Would you prefer 1st or 2nd hand?
Would you want to learn directly from God or hear from God via your pastor?

Just hearing the Bible from
your pastor is not enough! This is second best if you are feeding on the left overs from someone else’s spiritual meal. God has a personal banquet waiting just for you.

QUIET TIME

Quiet time is our personal time with God.

God wants to have an appointment with you each day where He can talk to you one to one through the reading of the Bible and where you can talk to Him through prayer.

We are sometimes too busy to keep that appointment. We lose out and our closeness with God begins to slop. Our love for Him begins to go cold!

Beware of the barrenness of a busy life!

HOW TO HAVE QUIET TIME

1. Make timeTry to have a regular time
each day. Most people find that the morning is the best time.

Develop the habit reading the Bible every day - whether you feel like it or not!
This is a good habit that will lead to Godly character.

2. Find a good placeA quiet and comfortable place is needed. Make that room, that chair a holy place. Pray over it and make it your own private sanctuary.

3. Use a notebookSometime we read the Bible like a newspaper, just looking at the headlines. We need help to understand and go deeper into the Bible. A notebook and pen helps us to read (study) the Bible with purpose.

4. Getting a grip on the Bible

Reading

Studying

Hearing

Memorising

Meditating

Meditating:Thinking deeply about what you have read or heard. Like how a cow chews the same food over and over until it is completely digested.

5. Where to startGospel of Mark - read one chapter a day. As you read it ask the following questions:
is there a:

Sin to avoid
Promise to believe
Attitude to change
Command to follow
Example to follow

ACTION POINT

I commit myself to have a daily quiet time for at least fifteen minutes with God for the next month.

Choose a time and place where you can do this.

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 4
Part 2 - workshop: Starting your action group

STARTING YOUR ACTION GROUP

Revival may be under way in
our college or community but without effective discipleship it will lose momentum and fade away. Since we know that Jesus’ way of doing ministry
is making disciples through His action group, then how do we get started?

DEFINITION

Action group:

A group of people meeting regularly to disciple one another with the aim of evangelism becoming a way of life.

BUZZ WORDS

Group

No lone rangers!

Regularly

This is not a once off meeting

One another

Christian community

Aim

There is a Godly purpose►evangelism

There are two important parts to the group:

Teaching (Bible study, prayer & fellowship)

Reaching (witnessing & fun!)

The leader’s goal is to make disciples of Christ who will be spiritual multipliers.

HOW TO GET STARTED

(Refer to the Best 4x4xFaith leaflet).

So you want to have an
action group. Where do you find the right people - those who will be ready for action?

SELECTION

Jesus selected people whom
He would invest in. He did not just spend His time with any one. When Jesus said ‘yes’ to include Peter in His action group, He also said ‘no’ to others. We must follow the example of Jesus.

Jesus also tells us: “Do not
throw your pearls [your valuable time & energy] to pigs.” (Matthew 7: 6). This is often where we make our biggest mistake.

If we select the wrong people
then our action group will not become a group. It will rather stay a series of many small meetings with individuals and there will certainly be no action!

Select people who are:

Faithful

Available

Teachable

What happens if any of these
three qualities are missing in the people you select?

Even after a lot of prayer there is still room for mistakes in your selection process. Remember: Judas was also selected to be part of Jesus’ action group. Did Jesus make a mistake?

THE FIRST MEETING

Invite each person on your list to your first meeting. Choose the best time and place to suit everyone. Use simple terms to explain the purpose and vision of the action group.

As a leader you need to make
all this happen.This will take longer and require more energy than you think!

AT THE FIRST MEETING

This is a key event. It is the first time all the individuals are together in the same place with the purpose of forming an action group.

Start as you mean to go on:Be on time
Be yourself
Be well prepared.

Share your vision with the
group - include a scripture and be enthusiastic (10-15 min.)
Pray together (10-15 min.)
Do something social e.g. have an ice breaker, or play a game, or eat pizza. (30 min.)

THE SECOND MEETING

One week later, set the pattern for the rest of the meetings (2 hours).

Pray together (10 min.)

Bible study. Choose the best material for your group (45 min.)

Witnessing. Get into pairs and share the gospel with unbelievers (45 min.)

Return to share stories and pray (15 min.)

WARNING

After your second meeting
some group members may choose to leave. They may give the excuse that they do not have time. But remember, making a commitment to witnessing can be scary!

AND FINALLY

The hardest part of leading your action group is getting started. It needs lots of energy, patience and enthusiasm from the leader. Do not give up too easily, especially in the first month.

ACTION POINT

Read the Best 4x4xFaith again.

Prayerfully select the four
people you want to disciple in your action group.

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Living and making disciples workshop 4

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 5
Part 1 - Bible study: Up close & personal

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Prayer is talking to God. In one sense it is simple, but in other ways it is difficult. There is a certain mystery with prayer, after all we are talking to God and He is spirit. It is God’s desire to hear our prayers. In fact, our heavenly father
listens more than His children actually want to talk to Him

PRAYER

Philippians 4: 5-7The Lord is near. Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Do not be anxious = the Lord wants us to ignore our problems.

God only wants us to talk to Him about spiritual issues.

We are to be thankful only when life is good and easy.

God’s peace is a gift only for spiritual giants (the really holy types!).

ONE-WAY OR TWO-WAY?

Prayer is two-way communication and it keeps us up close and personal with the Lord.

PRAYER SELF-EXAMINATION

What is your experience of prayer?

What answers to prayer have you seen?

For how long do you pray each day?

Are you happy with your prayer life?

Do you pray as if it all depended on God?

If prayer was cut out of your life what difference would it make?

What do you find hardest to pray for?

HOW TO PRAY?

If we are honest, very few of us are completely happy with how we pray. Prayer is an important part of our lives we all need to grow in. Like the first disciples of Jesus we also say: “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11: 1)

TRUE OR FALSE?

Jesus taught them about prayer - usually when it was most difficult to pray
(Luke 6: 28)

Jesus showed that prayer can at times be hard work - Gethsemane prayer
(Luke 22: 44)

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH GOD

In any good relationship we need to be committed to both speaking and listening.

We sometimes need a few ideas to help us in our communication skills.

PRAYER DIARY

Record what you pray for in a notebook.
This helps you remember answers to prayer and
therefore be more thankful.

A PATTERN OF PRAYER

Here is a suggested way that you could try in your next quiet time with God.

Adoring GodRead a Psalm and think about who God is. Let your imagination get excited about the character of God. Tell the Lord how much you love Him. Adore God for who He is.

Confessing our sinAsk God to show you what un-confessed sin there is in your life. Agree with God that it is sin and repent from it. In other words - breathe spiritually.

Thanking GodFor what He is doing in your
life - both the good and the bad!

Sharing needs with GodBring to the Lord those needs that are in your life and the world around you.

ACTION POINT

Start your own prayer diary. Plan to pray five minutes in your daily quiet time during the next month.

LIVING AND MAKING DISCIPLES

Session 5
Part 2 - workshop: Leading your action group

LEADING YOUR ACTION GROUP

When you aim at nothing, then you are sure to hit it. The danger with an action group is that it can easily change into a nice comfortable fellowship group that becomes inward looking. The action group leader’s desire should be to send disciples of Christ out from the group into the real world to be “salt and light.”

ACTION GROUP STANDARDS

(Everyone should sign up to...)

Evangelism - to be witnessing weekly

Attend the action group every week

Meet regularly with the leader for one-on-one personal time

Plan to lead their own action group within a year

QUESTIONS

Are these standards too high?

Are these standards practical in the real world?

Would everyone you invite to join your action group reach these standards?

Could you inspire others to reach these standards?

PITFALLS TO AVOID

Losing sight of the objective: Remember that your aim is to make disciples of Christ who will multiply themselves spiritually. You are not just leading a group.

Lack of witnessing together: If you do not model witnessing then they will not follow. Remember, things are better caught than taught!

Lack of prayer for your group members: The Holy Spirit is at work in your life and theirs. A lack of prayer in the leader’s part can show lack of dependence on the Lord.

Little personal involvement in their lives: Just seeing the group members for ‘spiritual business’ will make the group weak. You need to do ‘normal’ life stuff!

Becoming like a school teacher: Just getting through the material can become your curriculum. You settle for only taking them through the programme and you no longer want to see change.

Poor discussion in the group: Perhaps this is the first group you have led and you are inexperienced. Maybe you are not prepared ahead of time and do not know the material well. Or perhaps the group members are just difficult people to lead. We all need help.

LEADING GROUP DISCUSSION

Look at the four pictures.

It is not a lecture.The group leader does all the thinking.

It is not a long dialogue.The group leader has a long chat with just one member. The rest feel ignored.

It is not a series of conversations.The group leader has several chats with individual group members.

It is a group discussion.Everyone feels free to speak. The Bible is the focus, not the leader.

GUIDING THE DISCUSSION

Open ► Direct ► Conclude

Even an inexperienced group leader can use this simple three step method to guide the discussion so that all the group members feel that they can have their say. The Bible is the focus and not the leader.

Questions are open or closed. They either encourage or kill discussion!

OPEN OR CLOSED?

You all agree with this, don’t you?

What are the three things in this verse?

Why did this happen?

What do you think?

Anything to add to this?

MOVEMENTS EVERYWHERE

Your personal movement.What would happen on your campus, community or workplace when the four people in your action group were to start their own action group within a year?

They would repeat with other
people, what they have seen you do with them. They also would begin to make disciples of Christ. You would be multiplying yourself. This second generation of making disciples of Christ is called a spiritual movement.